Freshchat vs Zendesk
Freshchat is a live chat tool and Zendesk is a helpdesk with chat. Below, each one is described only in its own words: every line is taken from that vendor's own public pages, with a link and the date we checked it.
Who wrote this: GetFoxChat, which makes a different website chat product. We make neither Freshchat nor Zendesk, and this page does not rank them. If a vendor's pages do not say something, the cell says so instead of guessing. We do not copy prices; each pricing row links the vendor's own pricing page.
Freshchat and Zendesk, side by side
| Question | Freshchat | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Freshworks presents Freshchat as customer messaging on any channel, with an upgrade path to Freshdesk Omni for advanced ticketing and knowledge bases.freshworks.com/live-chat-software, checked 30 Sep 2026 AI-driven bots can be deployed across your website, native app and messaging channels.freshworks.com/live-chat-software, checked 30 Sep 2026 | Zendesk presents itself as an AI-powered customer service platform.zendesk.com, checked 30 Sep 2026 Zendesk Ticketing brings email, messaging, phone, social and more into a single place.zendesk.com/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 |
| Who it is for | Not stated on the pages we checked. | Zendesk says more than 80,000 companies choose it and that it is built for businesses of all sizes, from growing businesses to enterprises.zendesk.com, checked 30 Sep 2026 |
| How it installs | To enable the web widget you retrieve your code snippet and paste it on every page where the widget should appear.crmsupport.freshworks.com/support/solutions/articles/50000004797-how-to-configure-the-web-widget-in-freshchat, checked 30 Sep 2026 The chat widget runs on websites and mobile apps.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing, checked 30 Sep 2026 | The messaging Web Widget is installed by pasting a code snippet before the closing body tag of your web page, which Zendesk says needs basic familiarity with your website's code; it can also go on a Zendesk help center.support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4500748175258-Installing-the-Web-Widget-for-messaging, checked 30 Sep 2026 |
| Languages | Multilingual conversations translate incoming and outgoing messages in over 45 languages.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing, checked 30 Sep 2026 | Zendesk publishes the list of languages its mobile SDK and messaging Web Widget support, starting with Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese and Bulgarian.support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4408821324826-Zendesk-language-support-by-product, checked 30 Sep 2026 |
| AI | Not stated on the pages we checked. | Zendesk AI agents are included in every Suite and Support plan, billed per automated resolution: you pay for requests the AI agent resolved without escalation to a human.zendesk.com/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 Zendesk says its AI agents resolve up to 80%+ of even complex service issues across any channel, and support 80+ languages.zendesk.com/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 |
| Channels | Freshchat brings in email, Facebook and Instagram messengers, and SMS, WhatsApp, Line and Google Business Messages.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 | Zendesk offers live phone support with toll-free and international numbers, voicemail and extensions.zendesk.com/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 Zendesk messaging and live chat support customers across a website, app or social channels.zendesk.com/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 |
| Trial and free plan | The 14-day free trial gives access to the Enterprise plan; after it you pick a plan and pay by credit card, or the account is suspended.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 | Zendesk's free trial lasts 14 days, on the Customer Service Suite Professional plan by default.zendesk.com/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026 |
| Showing visitors around the page | Not stated on the pages we checked. | Not stated on the pages we checked. |
| Pricing | On Freshchat's own pricing page. We do not copy other products' prices. | On Zendesk's own pricing page. We do not copy other products' prices. |
Where Freshchat stands out
- Freshchat lists SAML single sign-on for agents among its features.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing, checked 27 Sep 2026
- The Freshworks Marketplace has 1,000+ ready-to-install integrations for Freshchat.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/integrations, checked 30 Sep 2026
- In the Team Inbox, agents can bring in a better-suited teammate and assign conversations one at a time or in bulk.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/team-inbox, checked 30 Sep 2026
Where Zendesk stands out
Zendesk's strengths are in the table above.
More from each vendor's pages
Freshchat
- For advanced ticketing and knowledge bases, Freshworks points Freshchat customers to an upgrade to Freshdesk Omni.freshworks.com/live-chat-software, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Freshchat connects to a Shopify store to engage customers across multiple channels.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/integrations, checked 30 Sep 2026
- Teams can collaborate on customer service issues via Slack.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/integrations, checked 30 Sep 2026
- Messages can be filtered by the response time due on them.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/team-inbox, checked 30 Sep 2026
- Pre-saved replies help agents respond faster.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/team-inbox, checked 30 Sep 2026
Why this pair
We do not have search-volume figures, so we picked the pairs that the vendors themselves write comparison pages about. These pages on the vendors' own sites compare Freshchat and Zendesk:
- tidio.com/blog/freshdesk-vs-zendesk
- crisp.chat/en/comparisons/zendesk-vs-freshdesk
- zendesk.com/why-zendesk/zendesk-vs-freshdesk
- zendesk.com/why-zendesk/freshdesk-alternative
- zendesk.com/blog/guides-and-ebooks/nucleus-research-zendesk-vs-freshworks
Those pages are the vendors' own views; this page uses only each vendor's description of itself.
A third option: GetFoxChat
GetFoxChat is website chat. Its AI operator answers visitors from your own pages and help content, and when the answer is something to click, it highlights the button or field on the page or walks the visitor through the steps. It is website chat only: no ticketing, no phone, SMS or WhatsApp channel.
How it compares with each, from the same kind of sourced facts: GetFoxChat vs Freshchat, GetFoxChat vs Zendesk. Or read Freshchat alternative and Zendesk alternative.
Pages we checked
- freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing
- freshworks.com/live-chat-software
- crmsupport.freshworks.com/support/solutions/articles/50000004797-how-to-configure-the-web-widget-in-freshchat
- freshworks.com/live-chat-software/integrations
- freshworks.com/live-chat-software/team-inbox
- zendesk.com/pricing
- zendesk.com
- support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4500748175258-Installing-the-Web-Widget-for-messaging
- support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4408821324826-Zendesk-language-support-by-product
Vendors change their pages. We re-check the sources and update this page when a line changes. Spotted something out of date? Email support@getfoxchat.com.
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